‘Team Derek’ comes to aid of RHS grad

Derek Goodall, left, and his dad, C.E. Goodall, former public works employee and newspaper editor in Richmond, are pictured in a photo taken prior to Derek becoming ill and hospitalized with acute pancreatitis. A group of Richmond residents has organized an event to raise money to help the family pay medical bills over and above what’s covered by insurance. (Submitted photo)

By Russ Green/Richmond News

It was Christmas Eve when Derek Goodall, a 2008 graduate of Richmond High School, was taken to the emergency room of the Heartland Regional Medical Center in St. Joseph. The 23-year old Goodall has been in ICU since that day as doctors treat him for what has been diagnosed as acute pancreatitis, which is a sudden swelling and inflammation of the pancreas.

Several complications have developed since then as doctors wait for the base cyst to mature so surgery can be performed. Needless to say, despite insurance, the medical bills continue to mount.

Goodall is the son of C.E. and Lura Goodall. C.E. is a former editor at the Richmond News and was also employed by the Richmond Public Works Department before leaving for Maryville three years ago to become Public Works Director there.

Derek had just become interested in raising cattle and agriculture before he became ill. Although he had no insurance, Derek is included on his dad’s health plan, but the expenses are still enormous.

Since he was admitted to Heartland Regional on Christmas Eve, Derek has since been Lifeflighted to the Nebraska Medical Center in Omaha Jan. 23, and then transferred back to Heartland Feb. 19, where doctors continued to stabilize him and wait for the proper time to perform surgery.